Gina Lückenkemper was not able to settle her outstanding score at the World Championships in Budapest either. One year after the European double triumph in Munich, the German sprint queen has to watch again how the world’s best run for the medals over 100 meters.
For Lückenkemper, fifth place in their semi-final was once again premature in 11.18 seconds. This leaves Melanie Paschke the last German to date in a 100-meter final – that was 26 years ago.
After the pre-run, which she only finished third in 11.21 seconds, Lückenkemper reported slight back problems. “Unfortunately, the back problem didn’t leave me completely alone. I lost my hip at the back, and if you lose the hip, it’s bullshit,” said Lückenkemper right after her race on ZDF.
In the semifinals, the 26-year-old came out of the blocks with the slowest reaction time. After a few hugs with the opponents and an anxious look at the scoreboard, the German “Sportswoman of the Year” left the new athletics stadium on the Danube on a warm August evening that was over 30 degrees. “I’m already feeling good on my own and I had a good time on the warm-up track (the warm-up track) but I didn’t get it on the track here,” she explained.
Account with the World Cup remains open
However, Lückenkemper, who trains in the USA in a group with the new 100-meter world champion Noah Lyles, emphasized before the World Cup: “I think I’m in the best shape of my career – so far.” However, a number of competitors were faster this season. Sitting 16th on the leaderboard, she knew a place in the top eight would be hard to come by.
Lückenkemper was also unable to make it to the final in Eugene last year, which she described as her open account with the World Championships. She compensated for this with a surprise bronze with the German squadron. However, due to injury, the quartet cannot perform in Budapest in the same line-up as it did at the time. A year after the acclaimed EM gold in Munich, the chances are bad there too.
Abuaku in the medal race over 400 meters hurdles
Joshua Abuaku had previously fulfilled his dream of reaching the final. As the first German runner since Harald Schmid, the Frankfurter reached the World Cup final over 400 meters hurdles. The 27-year-old only finished fourth in his semifinals in 48.39 seconds, but as one of the two fastest participants who did not directly qualify he got the last ticket. Best in the semifinals was Olympic champion and world record holder Karsten Warholm from Norway in 47.09 seconds.
“I really wanted to go to the final. I’m infinitely grateful,” said Abuaku on ZDF. In 1983 and 1987, Schmid was the only German hurdler over the 400 meters to reach the World Cup final. He won silver and bronze. The name Schmid “definitely” says something to him, Abuaku explained. “I know that there is still a bit of room for the German record.” This mark has stood at 47.48 seconds since 1982. For Emil Agyekum from Berlin, despite a personal best of 48.71, the semifinals were the last stop. Carolina Krafzik and Eileen Demes previously reached the women’s semifinals.
